Big breakthrough? US announces fresh 45-day Israel-Lebanon ceasefire deal

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a post on X: “On May 14 and 15, the United States hosted two days of highly productive talks between Israel and Lebanon. The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress.”

Pigott said the State Department will reconvene the political track of negotiations on June 2 and June 3, while a separate security track involving military delegations from both countries will begin at the Pentagon on May 29.

“We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establish genuine security along their shared border,” he said.

The previously extended ceasefire was due to expire on Sunday.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, welcomed the development, writing on X: “Concluding two days of negotiations with Lebanese and American officials, I’m looking forward to the next steps.”

Concluding 2 days of negotiations with Lebanese and American officials, I’m looking forward to the next steps.

The peace talks were frank and constructive, and are set to move forward on two tracks: security and political.

There will be ups and downs, but the potential for… https://t.co/JPcspMjWqv

— Ambassador Yechiel (Michael) Leiter (@yechielleiter) May 15, 2026

“The peace talks were frank and constructive and are set to move forward on two tracks: security and political,” he said.

“There will be ups and downs, but the potential for success is great. What will be paramount throughout negotiations is the security of our citizens and our soldiers,” he added.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high on the ground. Lebanese authorities said an Israeli strike on the southern town of Harouf killed six people.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, a fourth paramedic sustained critical injuries after a civil defence centre was struck in the attack, according to the BBC.

Southern Lebanon remains the heartland of the country’s Shia community and a stronghold of Hezbollah, which draws significant support from the region.

UN raises alarm over civilian toll

Despite the ceasefire that began on April 17, civilians in Lebanon continue to face a worsening humanitarian crisis due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes, senior UN official Imran Riza said on Friday.

Riza noted that daily airstrikes and demolitions continue to claim civilian lives, affecting women, men and children, as well as displaced families, including Syrian and Palestinian refugees and Bangladeshi migrants. First responders have also come under attack.

During a visit to Beirut’s southern suburbs to assess the scale of destruction, Riza met residents who shared stories of repeated displacement, trauma, destroyed homes and disrupted basic services.

“Residents shared devastating stories of loss, trauma and survival,” he said in a social media post.

“One man told us he was out on an errand when one of the strikes on April 8 destroyed his house, killing his wife, son and the two displaced families he was sheltering.”

“Diplomatic efforts now offer a critical opportunity to stop the violence,” Riza said. “The people of Lebanon urgently need security, stability and the chance to recover—not renewed pain, displacement and suffering.”